A young man is missing in the Breede River after a canoe capsized with three friends in it at 2 pm yesterday, 8 June.
The river is flowing fast and is swollen from rainfall. The three youths were trying to reach the shore when one disappeared. Police divers are searching for him.
Attie Gunter, NSRI Witsand station commander, said at 4.48 pm NSRI Witsand volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of the capsized canoe on the river near to Riverine, about 26 kmss upstream from river mouth.
The NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Queenie Payne and responded. On arrival they found two local youths about 18 years-old who were uninjured.
According to the two, they had all been on the canoe on the river when it capsized. While the incident happened close to shore there were reeds in the water along the bank which may have hampered their efforts to get to the shore. It had taken some time before they could get to a place to raise the alarm.
A search started for their missing friend. Despite an extensive search no sign of the missing teenager has been found and a Police Dive Unit is continuing with the search.
An SAP inquest docket will be opened.
(edited)
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